The new MOU states that the OAS will annually provide one or two recent Institute graduates with a training experience that includes two months of on-site “mute-booth” training, coaching from seasoned interpreters, and focused time learning about the OAS’s structure and mission. At the end of the two months, participants will sit for an interpreting exam and if successful, they will be added to the OAS freelance roster.

“We are delighted that our students will benefit from this unique opportunity for immediate post-graduation career advancement,” said Monterey Institute President Sunder Ramaswamy. “The fact that the Institute now has MOUs in place with both the United Nations and the OAS demonstrates the strong interest these major international organizations have in recruiting translation and interpretation students from the Monterey Institute.”

“This unique training experience provides an unprecedented opportunity for candidates with the language combinations most in demand at the OAS,” noted Monterey Institute Conference Interpretation Program Chair Barry Slaughter Olsen. “We’re excited to be in a position to offer the OAS a pool of highly-qualified candidates at a time when the organization is seeking to expand their pool of interpreters.”

The new agreement was signed at OAS headquarters in Washington, D.C. on March 8.